"Well," my Grandfather thoughtfully began, "I was nearly engaged to an Adventist once." It was the beginning to a story. While abiding by our planned 20-minute interlude between dinner and dessert (two marvelous "d" words!) I, being prompted by my Grandmother, had asked my Grandfather a question. He went on, "We met at a skating rink. After a couple months of dating I realized that we believed very differently, and it was about that time I met your Grandmother." Every soul was intent as my Grandfather remembered. I am thankful to hear those memories. The years and the Parkinsons make every memory a prize to be won. They fall and rush from a limited vessel like the precious water from Bethleham's wells that David longed for in his exile. I find myself filled with faith during those times of hearing. Just as God has taken care, He will again and forevermore. I am thankful that he left that pretty little Adventist girl. I am thankful that that young Air Force officer, Albert Lauer (whom I owe my middle name to) met another girl, Janet Frohmader, a pretty young brunette heading off for a college degree. I am thankful that my Grandfather is a man of conviction. And I am thankful for the generations that feasted together today proving the worth of such conviction and the timeless faithfulness of God.
ps. pray for a man that I sat with on Wednesday. We sat for some time in a curtain drawn room singing hymns and praying. He struggles with deep depression and abiding discontentment with himself. I understand both of these struggles. One of the refrains God brought to mind to sing while I was there was, "When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. / On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."
pps. I watched the movie "Get Smart" (the new one) 1.5 times last night and laughed pretty hard. A reminder how good it is to laugh.
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